What You Need to Know About Illinois Laws on Workplace Defamation
Workplace defamation can be an important yet intimidating topic to navigate. Here’s everything you need to know about slander and libel laws in Illinois.
In Illinois, workplace slander refers to an oral or published statement jeopardizing an employee’s career. Individuals who partake in slander in an Illinois workplace are subject to civil lawsuits.
Slander vs. Libel in Illinois
The difference between slander and libel commonly depends on how an individual presents a defamatory statement. Slander refers to verbal, spoken defamatory statements. Libel refers to published defamatory statements, such as images or printed writing. Illinois law does not distinguish between slander and libel.
Related: Access to Personnel Files in Illinois
Under Illinois’ Slander and Libel Act, falsely accusing an individual of the following actions is slander:
- Committing a crime
- Having a disease
- Engaging in fornication or adultery
Reporting Slander in Illinois Workplaces
Illinois considers any defamatory statements with the intent to damage a person’s professional as slander. Individuals who experience false accusations with the potential to jeopardize their careers can file defamation claims against their coworkers or employers.
Examples of workplace slander include spreading false rumors to other employees or publishing false rumors on a social media platform.
Related: Illinois Right-to-Work Laws
Illinois employees have one year to file a defamation complaint. Illinois employees who experience financial losses because of workplace slander can file a complaint to an Illinois small claims court. Illinois employees interested in filing a defamation complaint should work with an experienced attorney. Illinois attorneys can file a civil case for workplace slander online.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one would like to learn more about Workplace Defamation Illinois, get your free consultation with one of our Employment Attorneys in Illinois today!